Friday's Afternoon Update

What you need to know about Florida today.

In a boost to Florida's national ranking, companies here attracted nearly $300 million in venture capital last year, an indication that investment firms are taking notice of the Sunshine State during the nation's slow economic recovery, according to a new survey.
Florida companies received $299.8 million in 2011, or nearly 58 percent more than the state's 2010 total, according to the MoneyTree Report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers and National Venture Capital Association. They received $55 million in the fourth quarter alone — a fivefold increase from the same period a year earlier.
[Source: Orlando Sentinel]

"When I was 12 years old, I started working in the restaurant washing dishes. My father didn't want me washing dishes, but I wanted to. I learned how hard that work is. The dishwasher is the lowest-paid employee, operating the most expensive piece of equipment, responsible for the sanitation of every eating utensil and glass item for every customer. I hold them in the highest respect."

Florida’s housing pain ranks right up there with the worst of ‘em all.
The Sunshine State’s Housing Misery Index of 62 is second only to Nevada's 73. Read more from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and Trulia.com.

Florida joins contraception lawsuit

A multistate challenge has been launched against the Obama administration’s requirement that free contraceptive and related services be provided to employees of religious groups.
[Source: Times/Herald]

Did you forget to file your tax return in 2008? You might have missed out on hundreds of dollars in a refund.
But it's still not too late if you file a 2008 return by Tuesday, April 17.
The Internal Revenue Service says 70,400 Floridians didn't file theirs -- and are now missing out on a median tax return of $650 for a total of nearly $67 million.